Global Interdisciplinary Studies

Degrees and Certificates

The Department of Global Interdisciplinary Studies (GIS) provides students with a tripartite of skills, knowledge, and values that foster critical thinking, problem solving, and preparation for responsible global citizenship. Students gain an understanding of global studies, acquiring the know-how in global and digital literacy, cultural diversity and intercultural competences, interdisciplinary research, and a passion for social justice, nurtured in experiential learning.

 All students must choose one specialization from the sections listed below. 

The Department of Global Interdisciplinary Studies also offers minors in the following programs: Arabic Language and Cultural Studies, Chinese Language and Cultural Studies, Japanese Language and Cultural Studies, Russian Language and Cultural Studies. Visit these individual pages to view requirements. 

Classes

GIS 2000 : Intro to Global Interd Studies

Gateway course to Global Interdisciplinary Studies, preparing for area studies specializations and GIS interdisciplinary programs. Focuses critical thinking skills through the comparative lens of both global and interdisciplinary analyses. Mandatory preparatory course for advanced study in GIS major.

Credits

3

GIS 4275 : Global Religions & the State

Team-taught, interdisciplinary seminar. Study of World Religion in a 21st century socio-political context. Rituals, symbols, myths & doctrinal components of Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Islamic & Christian traditions. Consideration of the writings of contemporary religious international figures.

Credits

3

GIS 4277 : Writing Brazilian Culture

The course examines through film and literature several important aspects of regional Brazillian subcultures, such as the Amazonian indigenous, the coastal African, and the inner city youth cultures, the samba schools and football as cultural practices in the context of human rights.

Credits

3

GIS 4278 : Pro-Seminar in Sustainability

Interdisciplinary seminar course explores historical, philosophical, environmental, scientific, economic, and political dimensions of sustainability. Using scientific theory, GIS data, documentary films, historical documents, guest speakers, and other diverse source. Students will examine case studies of local, national and international sustainability initiatives.

Credits

3

GIS 4279 : Global Masculinity

Will explore how the lives of men and ideas about masculinity are shaped by war, sports, work, family life, politics, history and popular culture and defined in relation to other identities including race, ethnicity, and sexuality.

Credits

3

GIS 4280 : Race and the Renaissance

This interdisciplinary seminar examines concepts of Africa, Europe, and the Renaissance during the period associated with the emergence of modernity and increasing global contact through trans-cultural and global roots.

Credits

3

GIS 4281 : The Tale of Shanghai and Tokyo

Struggling with their identity while being nurtured by their traditional culture for more than a century, today's Shanghai and Tokyo eventually emerged from a feudal society as modern, sophisticated, and diversified metropolises on the global stage. Explore how the two Asian cities encountered the West, as well as how they were forced to change through revolutions and reforms in the realms of culture, sociology, literature, history, ideology, and philosophy of life.

Credits

3

GIS 4283 : Global Tea Culture

Interdisciplinary, team taught course which will explore the history and influence of tea in various cultures of the world through a comparative perspective.

Credits

3

GIS 4284 : Glob. Racial Images Film & Lit

An examination of the globalization of racial images through a comparative study of film and literature, using historical inquiry and literacy criticism. Topics include institutional and intellectual racism, imperialism and segregation, racial violence, miscegenation and sexuality, and resistance to stereotypes.

Credits

3

GIS 4285 : GIS Special Topics

Interdisciplinary study of topics of special interest in Global Interdisciplinary Studies related to course(s) taken through the International Studies Program. May be repeated for credit if topic changes.

Credits

3

GIS 4286 : Bridging Global Cult Conflict

Interdisciplinary, team taught course which will explore culturally global based conflicts with social, political, economic elements through a comparative perspective. This is a team taught course and will be capped at maximum student enrollment of 17 students.

Credits

3

GIS 4290 : African & Caribbean Pol & Lit

Interdisciplinary exploration of diverse literary traditions of Africa and its large diaspora in the Caribbean through political science and development economics theories. Examines political dysfunctions that follow postcolonialism; offers theoretical and aesthetic tools to appreciate interface between politics and culture.

Credits

3

GIS 4751 : Cultural Studies

Advanced course in cultural studies. Mastery of theoretical vocabulary & analytical thinking. Thematic foci such as definition of culture, production of cultural meaning & identity, role of cultural forms in creating & maintaining power relationships & social boundaries from a variety of perspectives.

Credits

3

GIS 4950 : Latin Amer Studies Seminar

Examines the complexity of Latin America from the American Southwest & the tropical islands of the Caribbean to the southern tip of South America. Rich & diverse cultural roots in Native American civilizations, Spain & Portugal, & Africa. Multicultural peoples & search for alternative social structures.

Credits

3

GIS 5000 : Special Topics

Intensive seminar taught by distinguished visiting faculty on a topic of global and interdisciplinary significance.

Credits

1

Prerequisites

GIS 2000 :Y

GIS 5011 : GIS Select

Interdisciplinary team-taught courses offered by GIS to fulfill requirements for the Junior Research Seminar and additional GIS Select course. May be taken by GIS majors in any of the specializations, including Gender and Women's Studies and Peace and Justice Education, to fulfill requirements in their specialization if the specific GIS Select topic carries the attribute of their specialization.

Credits

3

GIS 5012 : GIS Select

Interdisciplinary team-taught courses offered by GIS to fulfill requirements for the Junior Research Seminar and additional GIS Select course. May be taken by GIS majors in any of the specializations, including Gender and Women's Studies and Peace and Justice Education, to fulfill requirements in their specialization if the specific GIS Select topic carries the attribute of their specialization.

Credits

3

GIS 5021 : GIS Select

Interdisciplinary team-taught courses offered by GIS to fulfill requirements for the Junior Research Seminar and additional GIS Select course. May be taken by GIS majors in any of the specializations, including Gender and Women's Studies and Peace and Justice Education, to fulfill requirements in their specialization if the specific GIS Select topic carries the attribute of their specialization.

Credits

3

GIS 5022 : GIS Select

Interdisciplinary team-taught courses offered by GIS to fulfill requirements for the Junior Research Seminar and additional GIS Select course. May be taken by GIS majors in any of the specializations, including Gender and Women's Studies and Peace and Justice Education, to fulfill requirements in their specialization if the specific GIS Select topic caries the attribute of their specialization.

Credits

3

GIS 5031 : GIS Select

Interdisciplinary team-taught courses offered by GIS to fulfill requirements for the Junior Research Seminar and additional GIS Select course. May be taken by GIS majors in any of the specializations, including Gender and Women's Studies and Peace and Justice Education, to fulfill requirements in their specialization if the specific GIS Select topic carries the attribute of their specialization.

Credits

3

GIS 5032 : GIS Select

Interdisciplinary team-taught courses offered by GIS to fulfill requirements for the Junior Research Seminar and additional GIS Select course. May be taken by GIS majors in any of the specializations, including Gender and Women's Studies and Peace and Justice Education, to fulfill requirements in their specialization if the specific GIS Select topic carries the attribute of their specialization.

Credits

3

GIS 6500 : Capstone I: Research

Team-taught, interdisciplinary seminar. Integration of work for GIS major, leading to the research & writing of the major thesis, topic determined by faculty of record. Senior standing.

Credits

3

Prerequisites

GIS 2000